I had an unusual occurance. Whenever I find butterfly eggs I raise them out
and release them hoping to increase their chances and maybe learn a thing
or two. On Monday one of my Black Swallowtail pupae produced a
gynandromorphic adult, with male markings on the left wings, female markings on the right.
I was amazed, but as I thought to release him/her, I remembered the hungry
pair of Catbirds with nestlings that have been gleaning every bug in sight,
not to mention the chickadee family and the Cardinals with an only child.
I hate to release such a rarity into sudden death but I can't think of a
place where catbirds are not this year.
Any thoughts as to this? Are butterflies common food for these birds?
Thanks
Maryann in Niantic</HTML>